Back in the early twentieth century, trick-or-treating for candy wasn’t the main Halloween activity.

The night was a chance for young rapscallions to prank their friends and neighbours. Nice kids went to Halloween parties, played games, and ate things like apples and cake. When going door-to-door took off in the 1940s, costumed kids could look forward to a few coins, an apple or two, or maybe some cookies for their trouble.

Finally, in the 1950s, candy companies caught on to the opportunity they were missing and started marketing treats packaged just for Halloween.

By the 1970s most Halloween trick-or-treaters agreed – the only acceptable Halloween treat was packaged candy.

Today, Americans spend about $2 billion a year on that candy, and the average trick-or-treater packs 250 pieces of candy and 9000 calories into her plastic jack-o-lantern bucket!

Test your knowledge of all this sugar with this treat – a ghoulish candy bar game.